...Thanks Kirk....that ones 6' balsa...but I have some changes in mind.......widening the the tail width , adding a bit more volume and altering the fin placement , and the fins......it's basically moving back towards an original 70's style twin-fin......which has always been one of my favourite riders..

Brilliant-the tail on that was what caught my eye. The last few years of shapers playing with wide tails and biggish fins have been making surfboards very fun for me. With more volume, a wider tail and who knows what you'll do to the fins I'm glad that board will be in Australia and a long way from me!

Picked this up recently (will try and get some decent pics sorted of it). Arc tail going into a rounded tail on the heel side. Would love to try a keel quad version. Quite subtle, works amazing well and not weird at all

The next chance I get to head south this will be waiting for me- between seasonal business and crap weather/surf I haven't had a chance or reason to collect it, but I'm absolutely frothing to get my hands on it. Rob, the classic asym situation has arisen- yours look magic except you build them the wrong way around, and mine therefore won't work for you! I'm stoked you built and liked one- they really are worth the effort, it's a different feel to a board but not so different that it's an entire new learning curve.

super - I remember seeing Will's shapes at the F Fry. They looked good to me, and I wish I'd had more time to talk with him about what he's doing. There's so many ways to do them, at least from what I can see, that it would've been fun to share a few pints/waves and maybe more...

KIRK - dude, bro, come on man! Look here, I'm going away for a month, can we finally nail a date down?! I still have a penciled in order with CE to sort out (he has to be one of the most gracious people on the planet btw) and a need for some real mexican food. My board may be goofycentric, but I'd love to share it with you. The MAyor was tripping on it the other day, talks of bondo, sanding and all sorts has my brain swirling....

Just laid up a couple fin panels to experiment with some windsurfing inspired twinzer fins too...!

WJ is still lurking around doing some crazy shit too. I'll try and get some pics up soon!

Rob, careful what you offer- when my usual post Xmas slowdown hits in a few weeks, I intend making up for the surfing I didn't do this past year, and maybe a road trip or two! There's certainly a few boards here you'd have fun with, and I have a feeling I could find something to ride in your array. Jobson pics? Bring 'em on, love to see what he's got happening. Chris in Hawaii has a compsand coming from Jeff beck so as soon as I get some shots of that I'll post them. Meanwhile, to keep it moving, here's something a bit one-off from Kidman- channeled single fin based on the shape Parmenter built for Steph Gilmore that she's riding in his latest film. It looks quite tidy indeed.

Finally got it out today, I wish it had more nose. Great board, can't deny it, but much more effort needed than I could muster today, had a pretty mammoth climbing session yesterday, and very little paddle in my arms. Went late on a few, head dipped on the first, and felt solid underfoot, but not the love i was hoping for... Pretty much been me and shortboards no matter how you dress them up.

flacky wrote:Finally got it out today, I wish it had more nose. Great board, can't deny it, but much more effort needed than I could muster today, had a pretty mammoth climbing session yesterday, and very little paddle in my arms. Went late on a few, head dipped on the first, and felt solid underfoot, but not the love i was hoping for... Pretty much been me and shortboards no matter how you dress them up.

Might take a few goes to get it dialled I guess....? Also being tired from climbing can't help. Sounds like you know what you like though.

You might enjoy a Lumus as you can go pretty short with them, has lots more nose.

Flacky, that looks very nice- it looks as if it'll be fast as a Ducati when you get a good line and some wave face to open up on. Lovely outline on it too. Keep at it, that on looks like it deserves some effort. This one is mine finally.

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Had a couple of go outs in less than stellar conditions and I'm happy- it paddles well, gets into closeouts very easily and the few turns I managed felt insanely easy, the board went where I pointed it and fast too. Work is easing off and there's a bit swell out there, so I'm going to be all over it this week!

Oh it's staying put, no danger there. I've only ever had a couple of shortboards that I've clicked with instantly, the best being a speed dialler. And I sold that to buy the other, a 6'10 hull. Knowing I could pick up another dialler shape as and when really... Maybe I was hoping this would compare. It has a rolled entry, so no lift at all, I think it's made for steep sudden jacking waves really. The kind I don't surf very often at all... But I'm determined to take over to NZ a quiver of excellent british made boards. And I think this Empire, The Mason hull and the Squire chip are three of the very best I've ever seen made from anywhere on this little rock called Earth.

Flacky- glad to hear it's worth the effort. It's so great to have those sessions where it just comes together and the board does what you wanted it to do!Archy- Hank Warner shape, Ekstrom kicked down those nice bamboo fins and I'm well and truly happy.

The chip, wow! Love. Not easy, it's a long board with a rolled bottom to vee so paddles weird, turning needs to be precise and nursed but fuck its incredible in trim. Can't wait to get it in chest plus. Challenging, but yeah, fun!

Kayu, a foam hat would itch like hell I'm sure- Knowing him, Carl's would be some weird high density experimental closed cell foam he probably got from Pleskunas or some one- I'll look closely next time, but I think it's just palm fibre!